Report: Pakistani Journalists Face Threats From All Sides

May 3 is World Press Freedom Day, and according to Amnesty International, journalists in Pakistan face grave dangers from that country’s intelligence agencies as well as militant groups like the Taliban. At the same time, the Pakistani government is moving against one of the country’s major news channels, accusing it of broadcasting what it calls “false” and “scandalous” reports. VOA’s Kokab Farshori has more on the state of press freedom in the South Asian nation.

Related Articles

May 3 is World Press Freedom Day, and according to Amnesty International, journalists in Pakistan face grave dangers from that country’s intelligence agencies, as well as militant groups like the Taliban. At the same time, the Pakistani government is moving against one of the country’s major news channels, accusing it of broadcasting what it calls “false” and “scandalous” reports.

Thirty-four journalists have been killed in Pakistan since 2008 -- making it one of the most dangerous countries for reporting. In a report released this week, Amnesty International says journalists face threats from the country’s intelligence services, political groups and militant groups like the Taliban.

The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan is echoing the report, raising concerns about journalists’ safety in the country.

I.A. Rehman, the Commission's chairman, said, "We have already pointed out that 11 journalists were killed in Pakistan in 2013. So, we are extremely concerned and we feel that journalists are at risk in Pakistan and they are not receiving the protection that they not only as journalists, but citizens of this state deserve."

Competing charges

The latest attack on a journalist came in April, when prominent reporter and talk show host Hamid Mir was shot six times by unknown gunmen. Mir survived the attack and his brother claimed that Mir suspects the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI of planning to kill him. Geo News, the channel Mir works for, repeatedly aired the accusation and blamed the ISI and its chief for the attack.

A large section of Pakistani society, including other media outlets, objected to Geo's reporting of the allegations and accused it of irresponsible journalism and trying to undermine the country’s security forces.

While he could not comment specifically on Geo’s reporting, VOA’s Executive Editor Steve Redisch said it is important for a news organization to be careful with such charges.

"Before broadcasting any kind of allegations that are sensational, that have impact on national security, they have to be carefully and properly vetted before going out and broadcasting what could be damaging information," he said.

Responsible journalism

Though Geo has since softened its criticism, its accusations led the Pakistani Ministry of Defense to file a complaint seeking to cancel the channel’s license, a move that could shut it down. Redisch disagrees with that approach.

"Radio stations, television stations, newspapers, magazines have the freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of the press," he said. "I do not believe that any of them should be banned from publication, banned from the airwaves. It is really about how the audience perceives those stations and whether or not trusts the information that is given."

Experts in Washington -- both in and out of journalism -- say press freedom also demands responsible journalistic practices. But they say if a news outlet fails to live up to those standards, shutting it down is not the right solution.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, that his country could face further consequences to what he called its “already strained economy” if Moscow does not fully comply with a cease-fire in Ukraine. The two met, on Monday, on the sidelines of a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, where Kerry outlined human rights violations in Russian-annexed Crimea and eastern Ukraine. VOA State Department correspondent Pam Dockins reports from Geneva.

Video

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, that his country could face further consequences to what he called its “already strained economy” if Moscow does not fully comply with a cease-fire in Ukraine. The two met, on Monday, on the sidelines of a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, where Kerry outlined human rights violations in Russian-annexed Crimea and eastern Ukraine. VOA State Department correspondent Pam Dockins reports from Geneva.

Video

Diagnosing infections such as HIV requires expensive clinical tests, making the procedure too costly for many poor patients or those living in remote areas. But a new technology called lab-on-a-chip may make the tests more accessible to many. VOA’s George Putic reports.

Video

Afghan officials have expressed concern over reports of a crackdown on Afghan refugees in Pakistan following the Peshawar school attack in December. Reports of mass arrests and police harassment coupled with fear of an uncertain future are making life difficult for a population that fled its homeland to escape war. VOA’s Ayesha Tanzeem reports from Islamabad.

Video

Despite the ongoing ceasefire in Ukraine, soldiers in the city of Mariupol fear that pro-Russian separatists may be getting ready to attack. The separatists must take or encircle the city if they wish to gain land access to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia early last year. But Ukrainian forces, many of them volunteers, say they are determined to defend it. Patrick Wells reports from Mariupol.

Video

As low oil prices and Western sanctions force Russia's economy into recession, thousands of Moscow restaurants are expected to close their doors. Restaurant owners face rents tied to foreign currency, while rising food prices mean Russians are spending less when they dine out. One entrepreneur in Moscow has started a dinner kit delivery service for those who want to cook at home to save money but not skimp on quality. VOA's Daniel Schearf reports.

Video

The United States and Cuba say they have made progress in the second round of talks on restoring diplomatic relations more than 50 years after breaking off ties. Delegations from both sides met in Washington on Friday to work on opening embassies in Havana and Washington and iron out key obstacles to historic change. VOA’s Mary Alice Salinas reports from the State Department.

Video

One after another, presumptive Republican presidential contenders auditioned for conservative support this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference held outside Washington. The rhetoric was tough as a large field of potential candidates tried to woo conservative support with red-meat attacks on President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress. VOA Political Columnist Jim Malone takes a look.

Video

New Yorkers take pride in setting world trends — in fashion, the arts and fine dining. The city’s famous biannual Restaurant Week plays a significant role in a booming tourism industry that sustains 359,000 jobs and generates $61 billion in yearly revenue. VOA's Ramon Taylor reports.

Video

Issues like the Keystone XL pipeline, fracking and instability in the Middle East are driving debate in the U.S. about making America energy independent. Recently, the American Energy Innovation Council urged Congress and the White House to make expanded energy research a priority. One beneficiary of increased energy spending would be the Brookhaven National Lab, where clean, renewable, efficient energy is the goal. VOA's Bernard Shusman reports.

Video

There has been a surge of interest in the American civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s, thanks in part to the Hollywood motion picture "Selma." Five decades later, communities in the South are embracing the dark chapters of their past with hopes of luring tourism dollars. VOA's Chris Simkins reports.

Video

With the end of summer in the Southern hemisphere, the Antarctic research season is over. Scientists from Northern Illinois University are back in their laboratory after a 3-month expedition on the Ross Ice Shelf, the world’s largest floating ice sheet. As VOA’s Rosanne Skirble reports, they hope to find clues to explain the dynamics of the rapidly melting ice and its impact on sea level rise.

Video

A Lao dam project on a section of the Mekong River is drawing opposition from local fishermen, international environmental groups and neighboring countries. VOA's Say Mony visited the region to investigate the concerns. Colin Lovett narrates.